Jeremy Messersmith's Facebook page refers to him as "The Pied Piper of Wuss Rock," a distinction he's wise to embrace. The Minnesota native makes warm, melodic music that sits on the gentle side of power pop or the muscular side of chamber pop. Either way, it's enormously fetching, lively music, particularly on the sprightly new "Heart Murmurs." 8 p.m. Friday at Fitzgerald's, 2706 White Oak; $12; 713-862-3838, fitzlivemusic.com.

Film

Cult classic

Plato? Aristotle? Socrates? Morons. Now Rob Reiner, there's a genius. "The Princess Bride," his 1987 film based on William Goldman's book about heroes and villains, love and death has become an oft-quoted classic. It remains a charmer. 8:30 p.m. Friday at Market Square Park, 301 Milam; marketsquarepark.com. FREE

R&B

The balladeer

Singer, songwriter, Commodore and balladeer with few peers, Lionel Richie has been enjoying a resurgence thanks to his country-flavored 2012 album "Tuskegee." Despite the album's success, Richie plays to his strengths in concert, performing song after song for folks who met, fell in love and got hitched with his music as the soundtrack. With Cee-Lo Green. 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, $25-$125; 800-745-3000, woodlandscenter.org.

molly glentzer

Museums

Crowd dynamics

It isn't just the weather heating up. The art crowd will be burning up Houston's streets with all the openings this weekend. Topping the list at nonprofit spaces: the party at Lawndale Art Center, 4910 Main, for its annual open-call "The Big Show," 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday. It features the DJs A Fistful of Soul and free beverages. Catch more action 6-9 p.m. Friday at the Houston Center for Photography, 1441 W. Alabama, where new Museum of Fine Arts, Houston curator Malcolm Daniel has created the 32nd annual Juried Membership Exhibition. When you're done with parties, slow down and listen at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston 2-5 p.m. Saturday, when "Conceptual Politics" features readings by poets Christian Bök, Kenneth Goldsmith and Marjorie Perloff. FREE

Galleries

It's ArtHouston time

Years ago, Houston galleries drummed up excitement during the summer with a month of shows called Introductions, making room on their walls for emerging talent. Now it's called ArtHouston but it's still about discovery, including numerous group shows. More than 30 galleries host openings this weekend. Hot spots include 4411 Montrose and Isabella Courts (3901-3917 Main), 6-8:30 p.m. Friday, and Colquitt Street's gallery row, 6-8 p.m. Saturday. See the complete list at arthouston.com. FREE

STEVEN Brown

Classical music

Prize-winning style

Young musicians from colleges and conservatories across the United States competed in the Houston Symphony's Ima Hogg Competition in May, but the winner is living here. Clarinetist Lin Ma, a native of China who studies at Rice University, landed the $25,000 first prize by playing Carl Maria von Weber's opera-inspired Concerto No. 2 with spirit, silkiness and feeling. He'll repeat the concerto Saturday in the annual Houston Chronicle Concert, which caps the orchestra's free Day of Music. Led by French conductor Fabien Gabel, the orchestra also will perform two colorful works by Maurice Ravel, "Une barque sur l'ocean" and "La Valse," and Dmitri Shostakovich's rowdy Symphony No. 9. 8 p.m. Saturday; Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana; 713-224-7575, houstonsymphony.org. FREE

JOEY GUerra

Dance music

Music makes the people

A Little Help From My Friends is an annual event created by local DJ Matthew Dunn, who conceived it as a way for the dance-music community to give back to the city. This year's beneficiary is Friends for Life Animal Rescue and Adoption Organization. It features three rooms of music, a silent auction, burlesque and aerialist performers and bachelor/bachelorette auctions. The DJ lineup includes 2t0ne, Albert Fix, Chris Zane, Nathaniel Red, Trill Nye, Vance Lawerence and others. 9 p.m. Thursday at Stereo Live, 6400 Richmond; $10; 832-251-9600 or stereolivehouston.com.

Pop/rock

All stars

Santana singer Andy Vargas and La Mafia keyboardist David DeLaGarza join forces for a show that should stretch genres far beyond what you'd expect. They'll be joined by some familiar names, including sax player and drummer Marcie Chapa (Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez), La Mafia's Tim Ruiz, Artie Villaseñor and more surprises. 8 p.m. at Arena Theatre, 7326 U.S. 59 S.; $10; 713-988-1020 or arenahouston.com.